Celebrating Nottinghamshire's Charms This English Tourism Week: Caves

Sometimes the most intriguing aspects of a place aren’t immediately apparent. To discover these gems, you must delve a little deeper. On this, the second day of our English Tourism Week celebration of all things unique about Nottingham, we’re going underground to shed some light on our curious cave network.

Beneath the city streets lies a labyrinthine network of over 800 known caves, some of which date back as far as the dark ages, painstakingly hand chiselled over the years. In 892AD Nottingham was described as Tigguo Cobauc, or Place of Caves for those of you not familiar with Old Brythonic (an ancient Celtic language).

Nottingham’s earliest inhabitants soon discovered that the soft sandstone made for easy excavation and set about carving caverns and tunnels, and throughout the centuries, a maze-like subterranean world was formed, stretching throughout the city. The creations of these industrious inhabitants have found all kinds of imaginative uses over the years, from dwelling places to dungeons and dens of iniquity, hideouts to simple storerooms and most intriguingly, a bowling alley.

From gin and beer tasting in the caves below the stunning Victorian music hall, Malt Cross, to tours of the ‘mammoth cave’ beneath Peel Street and underground escapology adventures at Cave Escape, there’s plenty of places to experience the city’s subterranean world. Nottingham’s number one cave attraction, City of Caves is a must, where you can explore a medieval tannery, air raid shelters and more. We recommend delving deeper into their fascinating history with an actor-led tour, but be warned, these often sell out, so advance booking is advised.

Image Credit: Lamar Francois

No visit to Nottingham is complete without checking out Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, which lays the claim to being England’s oldest inn. Built into the cliffside, the cosy rooms and nooks are carved from the rock on which Nottingham Castle stands, with tunnels extending far and deep beneath. Located in these winding passages is an old cockfighting pit and it's thought that part of the Castle Gaol was once housed in the cellars, like the condemned cell; a claustrophobic lockup with a very low ceiling and tiny drilled holes allowing little air to flow through. The Gaoler would have sat just outside the cells on the ‘Gaoler’s Chair’ which was etched out of the rock and can still be seen today. 

So Visit Nottinghamshire; place of caves, and discover the hidden landscape beneath the city streets. Whether you're intrigued by the history and want to explore on a tour, or just fancy a quirky setting for a drink or two, these unique experiences are not to be missed.